We work with government officials and their staff to
maximize their human capital by improving their
abilities to read and to better understand others. This
results in increased collaboration and productivity,
while reducing stress and/or anxiety in the work
environment. Our Mobile Training Team is ready to
provide on-site trainings/seminars to assist your team.
The 10 Most Effective Ice-Breaking Feel-Good Questions
Based on principles found in Dale Carnegie’s book “How To Win Friends and Influence People”
1. How did you get your start in the widget business (government)?
Most People like talking about themselves. Start the conversation by focusing on the
person. Let this person be the “star” of the conversation.
2. What do you enjoy most about your work in the widget business (government)?
This question asks for a positive response. It continues the conversation on a positive
note and makes this person feel good about taking to you.
3. What separates your widget (organization) from other widgets (organizations)?
This is the permission to brag question. You’ve just given that person a chance to let it
all hang out. They will tell you with pride, everything that sets their company apart.
4. What advice would you give someone just starting within your widget (organization)?
Doesn’t everyone want to feel like a mentor? You can give a person that chance by
asking this question.
5. What one thing would you do within your widget (organization) if you knew you could
not fail?
Everybody has a dream/vision/raison d’être. What is this person's dream /vision/raison
d’être?
6. What significant changes have you seen take place in your widget business
(organization/industry) through the years?
This is a good way to find out about the growth in a person’s current profession.
7. What do you see as the coming trends within the widget business (your
organization/industry)?
This question will give you some insight into a person’s dream/vision/raison d’être and
plans for the future.
8. What’s the strangest or funniest incident you’ve experienced while working within the
widget business (your organization)?
This question asks that person to share his or her war stories, something practically
everyone loves to do. You are actually volunteering to be that person’s audience.
9. What have you found to be the most challenging part of working within the widget
business (your organization/industry)?
Again, you are accentuating a real interest in the person’s mind.
10. In one sentence, how would you like people describing your widget business (the
way you do business)?
Almost always, the person will stop and think really hard before answering this question.
What a compliment you’ve paid, actually asking a question that possibly no one else
has ever thought about asking.
REMEMBER
Do not ask these questions as though you are challenging the person. These questions
are meant to be feel-good in nature, designed simply to put the person at ease with
you and to establish and maintain rapport; the highest state of relatability.